COPPER-GOLD: Mount Polley returns to normal operations

BRITISH COLUMBIA – The BC Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Environment have given permission for Imperial Metals Corp. of Vancouver to resume normal operations at its Mount Polley copper-gold mine near Williams Lake. The operation was shut down following the failure of a tailings dam embankment on Aug. 4, 2014. A modified operation was begun a year later and has but may now ramp up to mill nameplate capacity of 20,000 t/d. Imperial complied with numerous conditions set forth by the independent expert engineering investigation and review panel report. After identifying the failure mechanism that lead to the breach of the perimeter embankment, all parties agreed to buttress and update the dam as suggested in the report. The stability of the structure now meets or exceeds all applicable legal requirements and guidelines, said the company. To ensure the tailings storage facility operates with the best applicable practices as outlined, Imperial appointed and independent engineering review panel in January 2015, and the panel will provide ongoing oversight. Since the breach of the dam, Mount Polley has completed significant rehabilitation of the areas that were impacted by the spill, and will continue necessary rehabilitation and monitoring of those areas. More information about the Mount Polley mine and mill is posted at www.ImperialMetals.com.